Fruit is a tasty and (typically) healthy snack for a dog, but not all fruits are safe for our pets. When it comes to cherries, specifically, there are some dangers you should be aware of.
Use Extreme Caution When Feeding Dogs Cherries
The main danger of cherries is that their pits, stems, and leaves contain cyanide, which is poisonous and potentially lethal if consumed in high enough quantities. Cherry pits can also get lodged in a dog鈥檚 digestive tract and cause intestinal blockages.
What about maraschino cherries, which already have the pits removed? They may be pit-free, but maraschinos aren鈥檛 a good dog treat because they鈥檙e typically sweetened with large amounts of sugar.
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What If Your Dog Swallows a Whole Cherry?
If your dog gets their paws on a whole cherry when you鈥檙e not looking, don鈥檛 panic. A single cherry pit won鈥檛 cause cyanide poisoning. However, you should still look out for symptoms of intestinal blockage, including vomiting, decreased appetite, constipation, and decreased fecal production.
These symptoms may appear up to 24 hours after your dog swallowed a cherry pit. Keep in mind that smaller dogs are more likely to suffer intestinal blockages from a small pit.
If your dog eats multiple cherries, you should look out for symptoms of cyanide poisoning. Symptoms include labored breathing, bright red gums, and dilated pupils. If you find that your dogs ate multiple cherries without pits, it鈥檚 a good idea to call your vet as a precaution. Your vet may decide that the best course of action is to induce vomiting to prevent cyanide toxicity.
Is It Safe for Dogs to Have Cherries?
So, what鈥檚 the final verdict on cherries? Dogs can eat unprocessed cherries, but you must use extreme caution when preparing them, and always keep cherries that haven鈥檛 been pitted well out of reach.